DCS PROGRAM SPECIALIST - NETWORK DEV-FAM BSD PL FAM FC - 11102026-82672

State of Tennessee; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee seeks a Program Specialist for the Department of Children’s Services in Knox County. The role focuses on evaluating program delivery, providing guidance, and ensuring policy adherence to protect children and improve family outcomes across the state.

You will interpret complex policies, train stakeholders, and maintain documentation to support case planning and service quality in a frontline context.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3 years of professional work in counseling or case management services.
• Graduate coursework may substitute for up to 1 year of required experience.
• Two years of children's services work are required.

Responsibilities

• Establish collaborative relationships with internal and external partners.
• Interpret policies and deliver targeted training for compliance and improvements.
• Maintain records, manage correspondence, and support permanency planning.
• Track performance data and ensure adherence to legal requirements.
• Analyze data to assess service eligibility and inform case planning.
• Review casework and outcomes to ensure quality services.

Skills

Critical Thinking

Judgment and Decision Making

Quality Control Analysis

Monitoring

Time Management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Personal Computer

Telephone

Fax Machine

Printer

Passenger Vehicle

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 11/10/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 11/10/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 11/16/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $4,608.00 - $5,751.00

Salary (Annually) $55,296.00 - $69,012.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Knoxville, TN

Department Children's Services

LOCATION OF (2) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, KNOX COUNTY

This is a DCS Program Specialist position with Network Development Family Based Placement that will sit in Knox County

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and experience equivalent to three years of professional work in one or a combination of the following: counseling or case management services; program evaluation of counseling or case management services, two years of which must involve providing these services to children and/or juveniles.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduate course work credit received from an accredited college or university in social work, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, human services, and/or child development may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of one year, there being no substitution for the required two years of children's services work (e.g. 36 graduate quarter hours in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required experience).

Necessary Special Qualifications:

• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Possess a valid driver's license prior to and during employment;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Have no conviction for a felony;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointment authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check.
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.

Overview

This classification is primarily responsible for evaluating Children's Services program delivery and providing consultative support to ensure that field and central office operations meet policy standards and quality expectations. Through technical guidance and interpretation of policies, the role strengthens frontline service quality, supporting the agency's mission to protect children and improve family outcomes across the state. This is the first level in the DCS Program Series.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with internal and external partners to support unified service efforts, ensure smooth operations, and foster open lines of communication.
• Interprets complex policies, laws, and procedures for stakeholders and delivers targeted training to promote compliance, drive improvements, and support informed decision‑making.
• Maintains accurate records, manages correspondence, enters timekeeping data, and supports permanency planning by contributing to documentation that informs case strategies and outcomes.
• Tracks customer and program compliance using performance data, third-party input, and system reports to ensure adherence to legal and procedural requirements.
• Collects, analyzes, and evaluates data and documentation from a variety of sources to assess service eligibility, address client needs, and support effective case planning.
• Regularly reviews casework, outcome data, and service reports to assess program performance, identify trends, and ensure quality services are delivered that align with agency standards.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Being Resilient
• Drives Vision and Purpose
• Customer Focus
• Communicates Effectively
• Plans and Aligns

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Law and Government
• English Language
• Public Safety and Security

Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Quality Control Analysis
• Monitoring
• Time Management

Abilities

• Auditory Attention
• Speech Clarity
• Written Comprehension
• Speech Recognition

Tools & Equipment

• Personal Computer
• Telephone
• Fax Machine
• Printer
• Passenger Vehicle

TN Driver Standards

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.